RIDGELAND, SC — A man was shot and killed during an attempted armed robbery at Jay’s Barber Shop on Thursday morning after entering the shop with a machete and threatening those inside.

According to investigators, the incident unfolded around 10:30 a.m. when 55-year-old Curtis Scott entered through the back door of the barber shop wearing a ski mask and carrying a machete. Witnesses say Scott told those inside, “You know what this is,” as he brandished the machete.

At the time of the confrontation, customers were inside the shop. One of the barbers, fearing for the safety of those in his chair and others nearby, drew his lawfully owned firearm and shot the suspect.

Scott ran toward his vehicle but collapsed next to it and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say another masked man entered the shop behind Scott but fled before officers arrived. Investigators are still working to identify that individual.

Employees later told reporters that Scott had visited the shop the day before, though it is unclear whether he was scouting the business.

This case highlights the importance of situational awareness and the ability to respond quickly in a life-threatening situation. Just as critical, the barber was carrying his firearm on his person rather than storing it off-body. When the machete-wielding attacker closed in on customers at arm’s length, there was no time to retrieve a gun from a bag or vehicle. Because he had it on him, he was able to act immediately and stop the threat, protecting both himself and his clients from a potentially deadly attack.